Tascam DR-07MK2 Handheld Digital Recorder Review

If you are recording live music or interviews with people everywhere you go, Tascam DR 07 Portable Digital Recorder fits your personality. It has the latest trend of technologies for your recording needs.

It is very light. You can bring it on the field. No need for you to carry a charger since it is powered by two AA batteries. It has a wide-screen view to make it more user-friendly and for easy handling.

Plus, Tascam DR 07 recorder includes a tripod mount so you can record yourself while you practice your instruments along with a 2 GB card to start you off.

Features

Built-In Mic

With the built-in two microphones, you can record all of the music you want, in stereo. The addition of the line plug-ins makes your recorder more convenient to use.

The 3.5 mm line can be used as an external microphone input if you want to record more music.

There’s no need to worry about the quality of your sound with the use of the variable-speed audio.

Dynamic Settings

You can also choose from a quiet or loud application with the use of the adjustable input level. Record the rehearsal of a live rock band using your recorder’s switchable low-cut filter.

This program will check the settings of your recordings in balance dynamic with the help of auto gain sets to retain its high audio recording quality.

Tascam DR-07MK2 recorder also has analog limit and auto gain settings for the great audio-sound recording of your music. You can also change the variation of your music by making it slower without altering the pitch of your sound, or you can do transcribe your music as you would love to.

Store or Share Your Files

The music is transferable as a WAV file, so you don’t need to ask for help to make it into MP3 format.

It consumes little in your SD memory card for it can record 16-24 bit MP3 file from 32kbps to 320 kbps.

It has 2.0 USB jack so you can transfer your file into your computer. Then, it will be straightforward for you to upload your recordings on any social site.

Specifications

Coming soon!

Tascam DR-05 vs DR-07MK2 vs DR-40

I will compare the DR-07 vs DR-05 and DR-40 models.

TASCAM DR-07MKII Review

A music recorder is something anyone in the business of music is always in need of. It is even better if the recorder is digital and portable, especially the likes of TASCAM DR-07MKII, which is built to cater to professionals.

It is built of sturdy plastic, contains powerful software despite its size and look, and is quite capable of perfectly recording audio of any kind. It can play high-quality music with its built-in speaker, and it even contains built-in mics for a wider service.

These features have greatly instilled interest in many aspiring artists who are looking to test their own vocals or instrumentals at a moment’s notice.

The auto shutdown feature is especially helpful in conserving battery life, and the LCD screen shows various calculations of time that are needed for perfect tuning and recording.

The TASCAM DR-07MK2 has its fair share of cons as well, the most prominent of which is its lack of compatibility. It cannot use MicroSD cards of quite some brands and requires only its own memory card to function to the fullest.

This can make storage become a burden, but the TASCAM DR-07MKII’s overall usefulness is something no one can overlook.

Customer Opinions

During my research on the Tascam DR-07 MKII, I found that buyers like that the X/Y microphone can change to an AB microphone best suited for ambient sound recording. The X/Y microphone is excellent for live concerts, band rehearsals or any kind of recording.

It comes with a 2GB microSD card although some buyers said they received the 4GB card instead. Many users also feel that expanding it with your own bigger microSD and SDHC card would be a more ideal option.

The USB port is an excellent addition if you want to transfer your audio files to your MAC or PC. Buyers feel that the recording quality is excellent with recording capabilities in 24 bit/ 96k and supported WAV and MP3 formats.

Another feature is the external microphone input slot that buyers feel it gives the device some versatility. I have found that a preferred external microphone suited for TASCAM recorders is the Pro JK MIC-J 044 Lavalier Lapel.

It’s less slim with less depth and less width making it a lot more portable, something that excites the buyers.

Users love the LCD screen, which displays the time operated and time remaining for recording, and you deleting files is just a click or two away rather than being buried deep down in a sub-menu.

While researching, I found out that users feel that the device’s auto power shut-down function is a big plus. This feature is essential, and it allows the user to automatically shut down the recorder at 3, 5, 10 and 30 minutes of idle time.

The low battery consumption of the recorder is something that buyers find to be a great feature. The device uses 2 AA alkaline or NiMH batteries, they are rechargeable and easy to replace.

Pros and Cons

Pros

Multiple uses
The recorder is highly versatile. The device has a build-in speaker and can record anything from live concerts and rehearsals to ambient sound recording. Apart from that, you can use it separately as a microphone on top of a video camera with the help of a shoe mount monitoring the audio levels while filming. The best accessory for this is the Marshall V-LCD-MT Monitor Adapter.

Quality sound recording
The most critical parameter of the recorder is the sound quality of the DR-07MKII. The device is able to record uncompressed WAV files at 16 or 24 bit, 44.1, 48 or 96 kHz. It is able to write mp3 files at different bitrates, ranging from 32 kbps to up to 320 kbps in mono or stereo.

Variety of features
The DR-07 MKII has lots of features providing you with the best experience. The speed playback equalizer helps smooth out levels and avoids clipping. The playback speed ranges from 50% to 150%, with options to loop and repeat as well as the chromatic tuner for tuning guitars. The device has the auto record and auto mark functions with up to 99 mark points on each file as well as an editing function which consists of divide and delete function. Another great feature is the jump back feature which allows you to jump back to previous time points of recording in 1-10, 20 and 30-second increments.

Light and portable
The recorder weights 13.6 ounces and dimensions of 2.2”W x 5.5”H x 1” D making it light and very easy to hold and handle.

Compatible
It comes with a 2GB microSD card, although it is best to upgrade to a 4GB and an SDHC card which holds from 4GB to32GB. The DR-07MKII has a USB 2.0 port for PC and MAC giving you another option for transferring files after recording. It has an option to attach a tripod for stationary recording.

Cons

Power adapter not included
The recorder has a USB slot as mentioned before, but you would be surprised that the device doesn’t come with an AC/USB adapter. You have to buy some extra rechargeable batteries and a battery charger. Or type PS-P515U AC/DC power adapter.

Sensitive to wind noise
Another accessory that is a must is a windscreen. The DR-07MKII is very sensitive to wind so purchasing one should be your top priority if you want to record outdoors. An excellent solution for this problem is the Movo WS9 Outdoor microphone windscreen.

SD Card Compatibility Issues
Although an SD card comes with the recorder, it is tiny and upgrading is a must. There have been compatibility issues between SD cards and the DR-07 MKII. Known tested compatible cards are any class cards by Panasonic, Lexar, and SanDisk. Minimum and maximum supported file size for the DR-07MK2 is Micro SD card, 64MB – 2GB and Micro SDHC card, 4GB – 32GB. The full compatibility chart is on the manufacturer’s site.

Conclusion

In summary the TASCAM’s DR-07mkiI is an excellent device for the price.

With excellent sound quality, you can use it in a variety of ways, from band practices to live concerts to even using it in video production, this device can pick up a humans voice from over 20 feet away.

Excellent battery life and a USB and external microphone port. You can even use it as a microphone for Skype calls.